Full round-up of results from Saturday’s action from the Donegal Junior League as Glenea Reserves beat Arranmore United.
Glenea United Reserves 2-1 Arranmore United
Glenea Reserves got their first league win with a hard-earned victory against the Islanders. In bight but breezy conditions it was the away side with the aid of the breeze, that started well and had the home defence under pressure. They were thankful to Joe Coll who made a number of good saves to keep the game scoreless.
As the half went on Glenea came more into the game but were unable to find a way through to goal. Arranmore finally breached the home defence on 40 minutes when, after good work by Gavin Mc Glanaghey, Gary Heeney was on hand to slot the ball home despite the best efforts of Liam Doohan.
In the 2nd half the home side started well and continued to look for an equalizer. They were rewarded on 60 minutes when John Mc Fadden’s effort from long range went in via the underside of the bar. Both sides pushed hard for a lead goal and had chances to score but both were denied by good goalkeeping at both ends.
However on 85 minutes the home side took the lead when Padraig Mc Gee’s 30 yard effort was turned onto the crossbar by the keeper but John Mc Fadden was on hand to head home the rebound. Best for Glenea were Hugh Penrose, John Mc Fadden and Nathan O’Brien, while Gavin Mc Glanaghey was always a threat for the Islanders.
Donegal Town Reserves 4-1 Kildrum Tigers Reserves
Donegal started very strongly and Mulligan put them 1-0 up from the spot. It should have been more but several chances were squandered. Town finally made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time through James Kerrigan who finished from close range.
Kildrum got right back into the game after the restart making it 2-1 with a neatly finished free. Town rallied again though and made it 3-1 through Joe Stitt who was put through by O’Reilly.
Town then finished the game off after some lovely play by Stitt to set up Kerrigan for his second of the day. Strong team performance from Donegal..
Keadue Rovers Reserves 4-3 Fintown Harps AFC
Keadue Reserves emerged from this West Donegal derby with a win which maintains their good start to the season. It was a difficult day for football, with a swirling breeze throughout. It was the visitors who flew out of the traps and were ahead in the first minute with a goal from Shan Mc Millan.
The home side soon got on top and were moving the ball out wide well. Peter McGee had a shot over the bar on ten minutes after a good run.
Fintown were dangerous from set pieces. Keadue were level on twenty minutes when Aidan O’Donnell was fouled in the box and Michael Greene stepped up to score. Two minutes later, Fintown were again ahead with a good finish from Odhran Mc Callaig. On the half-hour mark Michael Greene swept home a good leveller from close range. Declan Mc Cready broke into the area on thirty-eight minutes but fired wide while two minutes later Shaun Burns, from the edge of the area, shot at the keeper. At the start of the second half Damien Hanlon hit a free kick that went wide. Hanlon again hit a free kick, wind-assisted on fifty-two minutes, and this time he found the top corner.
Keadue looked to have made the game safe shortly after the hour mark when, from a corner, Damien Hanlon’s far post flick found the net. On seventy minutes Shanky was again unlucky for the visitors while Shaun Burns was again through for Keadue but a last-ditch tackle deprived him. After a few subs for both sides Fintown got back into it on eighty-two minutes when Shan Mc Millan hit a rasper into the top corner. Keadue held out for an important victory. Best for Fintown were Shan Mc Millan and Joe Shanky while best for Keadue were Peter Mc Gee, Jack Doherty, Michael Greene and Shaun Burns. Referee: George Montgomery.
Oldtown Celtic 0-0 Milford United Reserves
This game was played in fine conditions on the new 3G pitch at the Letterkenny Community Centre.
The game started evenly with Oldtown edging early proceedings. They missed the opportunity to go ahead from the penalty spot with the Milford keeper producing a great save to keep the score 0-0. Oldtown pressed for the remainder of the half and hit the post with a long-range effort. The second half started the same way with Milford solid in defence and hitting on the break.
Oldtown had several efforts on goal blocked with the Milford defence standing strong. The game then opened up and Milford had some chances but never really tested Michael Gibson in the Oldtown goal. Oldtown pressed for a winner but couldn’t break Milford down. Team performances.
Strand Rovers 2-1 Glencar Celtic
(No Report Submitted)
Old Orchard Saturday Division Two
Castlefin Celtic Reserves 3-3 Kilmacrennan Celtic Reserves
Castlefin and Kilmacrennan shared out the points in a highly entertaining Reserve game on Saturday. Kilmacrennan took the lead in the 19th minute when James Mc Sharry’s shot hit the net. Ten minutes later Kilmacrennan got their second when Eddie Doherty broke free and chipped the keeper.
Castlefin pulled one back when Matthew O’ Rourke’s shot from edge of box flew into bottom corner. Kilmacrennan got a third when Ciaran Black’s shot from the edge of the box flew into the net. Castlefin pulled a goal back when O’ Rourke again found space and fired home. Lee Mc Laughlin equalised for the home side in the dying minutes when he headed home from a corner.
Referee: Packie Coll
Drumbar F.C. 1-3 Cappry Rovers Reserves
(No Report Submitted)
Drumkeen United Reserves 3-1 Dunlewey Celtic
Early season pace setters Dunlewey Celtic were the visitors to St Patrick’s Park on Saturday afternoon. The visitors had a few chances in the first half including a penalty which was saved by the Drumkeen Keeper. It was scoreless at the break. The game swung in favour of the hosts early in the second half and they found themselves three goals up around the hour mark. Michael Guthrie got the first.
The second was an own goal which occurred when a great cross into the box from Darren Bonner was diverted into his own net by a Dunlewey Defender. Aaron Doherty continued his good recent goalscoring form when he converted from the penalty spot to make it three. Drumkeen could have added another few as Aaron Doherty fired a couple of shots over the bar and Michael Guthrie saw an effort go just wide of the post. Dunlewey kept plugging away and got a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty on 75 minutes.
This time Chris Cannon’s spot kick ended up in the bottom left hand corner of the net just out of reach of the Keeper. The visitors were buoyed by the goal which made for an interesting last 15 minutes in a game that had looked to be over as a contest. The visitors pushed for another goal but Drumkeen did not panic and held firm to collect the three points. Good team efforts from both sides in a game that thankfully was over before the rain started. Referee: Sean Ferry.
Drumoghill F.C. Reserves 3-1 Ballybofey United Reserves
Both teams started brightly with both keepers being called into action early on. It was Drumoghill who drew first blood midway through the first half when Brendan Devine volleyed home from close range after good work from Ethan McCready on the right. Conor Doherty equalised for Ballybofey ten minutes later after his shot was deflected into the net past the unlucky Mickey Toner.
Ballybofey started the stronger in the second half and had several good chances to take the lead however Drumoghill gradually came back into the game and their pressure told midway through the half when Mark Gibson found space in the Ballybofey penalty area and fired home.
Jason Doherty added a third shortly after when the ball fell to him on the edge of the box and he curled his shot into the top left hand corner via the post. Good team performances from both sides in blustery conditions at the moss.
